Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tasks ruling EPRDF to protect internal revolution

The Ethiopia People Revolutionary Democratic Front comprises four main blocs:

• The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
• The Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) now Oromo Democratic Party.
• The Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) now Amhara Democratic Party.
• The Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, SEPDM.

It is the first time in three years that the congress is holding after the coalition postponed it on several occasions in the wake of spreading anti-government protests. The protests largely led by youth in Oromia region – the largest and most populous, forced Abiy’s predecessor to resign paving the way for his election to head the coalition. Abiy, himself an Oromo, has undertaken drastic reforms since taking office on April 2.

His reforms have spanned the diplomatic, political, economic and social spheres. Despite winning praise for the pace and boldness, rising internal insecurity has marred his tenure as inter-ethnic violence continues to cause deaths, destruction of property and mass displacements.